Progressive vortex pump

ABSTRACT

PROGRESSIVE VORTEX PUMP. The objective of the present invention is to provide a progressive vortex pump, which has multiple stages, which works at the center, eliminating totally system vibration. All components of this pump are metallic, which can work at very elevated temperatures.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a pump with progressive vortex system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTS

The current pump systems are composed of the so-called helical progressive cavity pumps. These pumps have a rubber stator with a single cavity. This cavity has a helical shape generated by two 180°-dephased circumferences (double entry) that are displaced with a determined pace along the central stator shaft. The helical rotor as it rotates inside this cavity has an inevitable radial displacement. Therefore, these pumps need a compensation system in the rotation movement transmission, generally performed by a cardan shaft. Although the problem in the transmission is solved, these pumps have the inconveniences of having great lengths, in function of the cardan, and of working with an undesirable vibration. This vibration most of the time hinders these equipments to work with rotations greater than 500 rpm.

Another system currently used is based on the axial flow of the fluid through multiple longitudinal cavities and it is a combination of peristaltic pump and helical progressive cavity pump. These longitudinal cavities are formed by flexible tubes (hoses) displaced circularly inside a steel pipe. A helical rotor rotates in the central space of this assembly compressing the hoses against the steel pipe. In function of the geometrical shape of the rotor, the fluid is pumped longitudinally inside the hoses. The problem of this pumping system is that between the hoses and the rotor and also between themselves results a useless empty spaces, which hinders the reduction of the pump dimensions.

To try to solve the problems presented above, PI 0403685-9 proposes a pump with centered helical rotor, the persisting problem in this concept is that the stator is made of rubber. When used in petroleum drillings, the composition components of the petroleum end up attacking the rubber, aggregating or removing some component of its composition. Besides this inconvenience the helical progressive cavity pumps cannot work at elevated temperatures, since the rubber deteriorates.

All existing pumping systems in the state of the technique work with low rotation because they work decentralized.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a progressive vortex pump, aiming at solving the problems encountered in the rubber component, vibrations and pump size.

In order to achieve the above objective, the progressive vortex pump of the present invention has multiple stages, works at the center, eliminating totally system vibration, all components are metallic, which can work at very elevated temperatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DESIGNS

The invention as well as its objects and advantages can be better understood with reference to the description of the preferred incorporations that follow together with the enclosed figures, where:

FIG. 1 represents a front view of a PCP pump (11) installed in a well;

FIG. 2 represents a front view of a progressive vortex pump (21) installed in a well;

FIG. 3 represents a front view of a PCP pump (11) sectioned longitudinally, where we can observe all its internal components;

FIG. 4 represents a front view of a vortex pump (21) sectioned longitudinally, where we can observe all its internal components;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 represent front views of the progressive vortex pump (21);

FIG. 8 represents a detail of FIG. 7 where we can observe the vortex (71) operation (the direction of fluid rotation within the stage can be observed);

FIG. 9 represents a detail of FIG. 8 where we can observe the passage of the fluid from one stage to another (81);

FIG. 10 represents a blown out view of the vortex pump (21) components;

FIG. 11 represents a detail of FIG. 10 where we can observe the 3 basic components of the vortex pump (21) (diffuser (111), rotor (112), stator (113)).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All vortex pump (21) components are metallic, this way they can work at high temperatures without damaging any component of the vortex pump (21). The difference of the progressive vortex pump (21) in relation to those already existing in the market is the number of stages, because due to the geometry of the parts, diffuser (111), rotor (112) and stator (113), we can mount the number of stages that we may wish.

The mounting of the progressive vortex pump starts with the shaft, where the rings (sliding, graphite, sealing), bearings, pump pipe, valve, diffuser (111), rotor (112) and stator (113) are assembled. For this reason the diffuser (111), rotor (112) and stator (113) assembly, forms a stage and can be mounted in accordance with the number of stages needed to reach a particular pressure for the application in which the pump will be used, where there is no limit to the number of stages.

As it can be observed in FIG. 8, the fluid enters through an existing opening in the diffuser (111), then passes through an opening in the stator (113) and when the fluid arrives at the rotor (112), in each one of the rotor (112) blades the fluid performs a vortex movement (direction of fluid rotation). The centrifugal force generated by the rotor's high rotation, by the geometry and by the movement, causes the fluid to perform a vortex movement. This fluid movement is repeated by the number of times of stages that we mount.

The progressive vortex pump (21) can be used in petroleum wells, which is installed in the drilling. Since all components are metallic, the pump (21) can work under temperatures higher than 300° C. without harming any of its components, or reducing its capacity. Since this pump (21) has the shaft at the center, the pump works without generating vibrations, which increases the useful life of the pump (21) and it can even work at high rotations without any damage.

Because the rotors and diffusers are all metallic and there is free passage between the rotors and the diffusers when the pump is inversely stopped, we still have the advantage that we do not need to remove the pump in case there is a need to inject some diluting agent into the well or superheated steam, since it will not be attacking the parts of the progressive vortex pump (21).

It must be evident to the experts of the technique that the present invention can be configured from many other specific ways without moving away from the spirit or scope of the invention. Especially, it must be understood that the invention can be configured in the described ways.

Therefore, the present examples and configurations must be considered as illustrative and unrestrictive, and the invention must not be limited to the details provided in this document, however they can be modified within the scope and equivalence of the enclosed claims. 

1. PROGRESSIVE VORTEX PUMP, characterized by the fact that it is composed of, at the minimum, a set of at least a diffuser (111), a rotor (112) and a stator (113), where each set forms a stage.
 2. PROGRESSIVE VORTEX PUMP, in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the sets that form one or more stages.
 3. PROGRESSIVE VORTEX PUMP, in accordance with claim 2, characterized by the pressure that is determined by the number of stages.
 4. PROGRESSIVE VORTEX PUMP, characterized by the fluid that enters through an existing opening in the diffuser (111), after passing through an opening in the stator (113) and arrives at the rotor (112).
 5. PROGRESSIVE VORTEX PUMP, in accordance with claim 4, characterized by the fluid after arriving at the rotor (112), passes through each one of the rotor blades (112) is directed towards the diffuser with a vortex movement.
 6. PROGRESSIVE VORTEX PUMP, in accordance with claim 5, characterized by the vortex movement that emerges from the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotor.
 7. PROGRESSIVE VORTEX PUMP, in accordance with claim 5, characterized by the movement of the fluid that is repeated by the number of mounted stages. 